HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 501
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chamber, and
Delegates Ashcraft and Spencer)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education and the Arts, to make a study of the effectiveness of programs and services that are available to students with disabilities attending primary, secondary and post-secondary public schools, as well as public institutions of higher education.

Whereas, The West Virginia Department of Education, Office of Special Education, has identified more than fifty thousand students in grades K-12 who have disabilities; and

Whereas, More than one thousand five hundred students with disabilities have been identified as attending post-secondary schools and institutions of higher education in West Virginia; and
Whereas, The Task Force on College and University Services to Students with Disabilities, appointed by the Chancellors of the State College and University Systems of West Virginia, has recommended that a task force be created to work with education professionals to increase training, education and awareness regarding students with disabilities; and
Whereas, The State of West Virginia desires to do all that it can to further the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and other laws relating to students with disabilities; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education and the Arts, is requested to (i) review, examine and study the effectiveness of programs and services available to students with disabilities in primary, secondary and post-secondary schools as well as public institutions of higher education; (ii) determine the extent to which those programs and services are influenced by applicable state and federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and other applicable statutes and regulations; and (iii) report its findings and recommendations to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates regarding the same by the tenth day of the regular session of the Legislature, one thousand nine hundred ninety-five: and, be it
Further Resolved, That this study shall identify at least: (1) Exemplary leaders in the areas of programmatic access, as well as the removal of architectural/physical barriers; and (2) community resources that primary, secondary and post-secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities, can draw upon to serve this area; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this study shall also develop a faculty/staff training program relating to students with disabilities for primary, secondary and post-secondary public schools, as well as public institutions of higher education; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the evaluation may include on-site visits to the primary, secondary and post-secondary schools and colleges and universities to meet with the department and/or the individuals responsible for providing services to students with disabilities; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, one thousand nine hundred ninety-five, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report, and to draft any necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.